Friday, April 20, 2007

Friday 04/20 A.M. Quickie:A-Rod, Oden, NBA Playoffs, More!

"Orange and Maroon Effect" Day: My small tribute is to the right. (Other bloggers are joining in, too. See the Ladies...) I look forward to seeing the traction this gets today around the sports-blog universe. Thoughts and prayers with everyone in the Virginia Tech family.

A-Rod: MLB's Stud of Studs! A mere few weeks ago, who would have guessed that one? Three weeks into the season, he is having a career year – just when he needed it most.

Not just to fend off the fair-weather Yankees fans, who must have whiplash from the way they've gone from hating to hearting. But, given his contract opt-out at the end of the season, $25 million a year will seem like a bargain if he keeps this up. (Don't think potential future Cubs owners aren't paying attention.)

However, consider the weekend's Yankees-Red Sox series in Boston the acid test of his hot start. The previous weeks' heroics don't mean very much if he can't beat back Boston. (Meanwhile, how blissfully amazing is it that the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry -- which overwhelmed the sport as recently as two years ago -- seems to have dimmed?)

Greg Oden turning pro: Yes, and the surprise here is...? He'll be the top pick in the NBA Draft. He'll be Rookie of the Year. He'll be a perennial All-Star. (Now: How many of those three statements do you agree with?)

Far, far more intriguing: Mike Conley and Daequan Cook will enter the draft, too – and, thus, the 2006-07 OhioState team is truly the antithesis of the Florida team that beat them in the national title game.

Conley? I get: He played himself into the Top 15 and the first PG taken. Does it matter that he doesn't have a jumpshot? Apparently not. (I appreciate how well he played last month, but Conley is like a poor man's Mike Bibby. Consider that for a second.)

Cook? Sounds like he just doesn't want to be left out. Ironically, even as OSU's 6th Man, he could be a first-round talent (or a second-round steal). If he stayed another year in college, he'd be a Lottery pick, so some team is going to get a bargain late. (Check out his season. Or should I say TWO seasons: In non-conference play, he was a stud. In Big Ten and postseason play, he was a dud.)

Will the T'wolves trade Kevin Garnett in the summer before he begins his opt-out season? They say they're not planning on it. Put it this way: They SHOULD.

Time for another Shanoff-MySpace Challenge? Carmelo was one thing: I'm not sure I want to take on the TNT NBA guys. (But I do lead them by a couple hundred friends as of Friday morning.)

NFL Draft: What did I say yesterday morning? Admitting to college drug use is the new 4.35 40. The new rule of thumb is: 'Fess up and all is forgiven, particularly when the player is a first-round talent.

One toke or Sappian proportions, it doesn't matter: NFL draftniks and scouts agree – they couldn't give an ounce(!) as it relates to draft-worthiness.

Let me sum it up: The new focus on "character" apparently doesn't extend to players so talented that they would be in the draft's top half of the first round. (Well, that, or the perfectly realistic view that a little pot-smoking in college does not a Bengal make.)

Cheerleading Scandal! Call it "Cheat-leading."WichitaState had to give up its national title after officials figured out that the Shockers used an ineligible non-student at the national championships. What kind of idiot coach knowingly lets that happen?

JordanHigh School Classic: Sure, we could talk about NBA-ready talents like OJ Mayo or Eric Gordon or about unsigned studs PF Patrick Patterson and PG Jai Lewis, but I would like to point out that MJ's son Jeffrey is still unsigned. Indulge me here...

This is a no-brainer: I'm not quite sure why Northwestern didn't have a scholarship offer out to him years ago, let alone right now. This is the perfect fit. He's a local Chicago kid. He's talented enough to star at NU without being talented enough to be able to star at a more competitive school. It's the Big Ten, which – as far as I can tell – is the most high-profile conference he has been offered to play in. It's a great school (obvi). And he's Michael Jordan's son, which would get Northwestern a ton of pub, a nice bonus for the school. No big-conference basketball team could use a p.r. boost like NU. While they're at it, they can drop their adidas shoe and uniform sponsorship for Jordan Brand.

(I read the school is interested in making him a "preferred walk-on." I'm not sure what that means, but I've seen the NU players who have earned full-blown scholarships, and they ain't great. Maybe "preferred walk-on" is a euphemism for "you'll be treated like a scholarship player, but since your dad is mega-rich, you can afford to pay the tuition and not take up a valuable scholarship spot.")

I'm imploring Northwestern AD Mark Murphy and coach Bill Carmody to MAKE THIS HAPPEN. I'm just not quite sure what they're thinking in NOT doing it.

Finally, one housekeeping note: I will be taking a short vacation early next week, but (1) I have lined up some guest-bloggers to file posts, and (2) I will probably be unable to resist checking in, as news/inspiration warrants.

Everyone getting all excited about MR.April(A-Rod) let's remember it is only APRIL and there is less pressure in this month then any during the season. Let's see what he does this weekend and when it really counts like October and the playoffs.

Yeah, A-Rod wasn't even that good. He was 0-4 with 2 strikeouts and 4 LOB and an error before the homer. Doesn't really sound like an amazing day to me. AND HE IS NOT GOING TO THE CUBS! The Cubs don't want him and where would they play him? Third Base is solidified by Aramis Ramirez. I don't think A-Rod would do well moving back to SS.

MLB Studs:Rich HillJohan SantanaBrad Lidge (GOT THE WIN!!!!)

MLB Duds:Marlins PitchingJose GuillenReds Bullpen (blew a 6-2 in the 8th and 9th)

there was a good point by woj in espn.com today...just becuase its april doesn't mean these games arent important. When the yanks win the division by two games, those two a-rod blasts in april are going to seem pretty significant. There is always pressure surrounding a-rod, especially in late inning at-bats no matter if its april or october or spring training for that matter. Right now he is hitting .600 with 7 rbis in the 9th inning alone this year...he is playing SICK and is establishing himself as the best player in baseball. Get off this stupid "its only april" garbage. People don't have the type of months hes having over the course of the first three months of the season, let alone the first two-three weeks...

andy - thats the type of stuff that makes yankee fans look stupid...the guy can't hit a homerrun every time he steps to the plate (although he is starting to make it look like it might be possible). EVERYONE has a bad day - the fact that he didn't let it get him down and he came through when they really needed him shows that he is going to excel this season.

NDYANKFAN - but what about when A-Rod comes to plate in that situation in the Playoffs and fails like he normally does. Then every Yankee fan will be saying the same thing, he can perform when the pressure is off but sucks when the pressure is on.

Let's Face it A-Rod is Peyton Manning before Peyton won the Super Bowl. A great Player who does not perform when it really counts. 2 weeks in April is not going to convince me or a lot of other people that this has changed.

I hate the Yankees and hate A-Rod, but objectively the dude is on fire right now. He's carrying that team right now when their starting pitching is battered. All this does is make the Yankees fans who booed him for last year and on opening day look completely idiotic.

These games do matter, but in all reality, if he were to have a postseason this season like he did last year, I'm guessing a lot of people would have a very short memory.

Josh Hamilton is also a great story. Talk about getting the most out of a second/eighth chance!

I'm glad to see that someone recognized Borowski as a dud. He had a 4 run lead, with 2 outs and nobody on base. Then, he loses that by 2? Shocking!

Dan -- I think you should copyright that phrase Re-Heat, just in case. Kind of like Pat Riley did with the phrase Three-Peat. It won't do any good, as the Mavs are going to win it this year. But it's like taking the $10 bet on the 250:1 odds the Nationals win the world series.... just in case.

I was on a packed MetroRail car on the way into DC today and was the only person wearing any Hokie colors. As a Virginia fan, I am an avowed Hokie Hater and intentionally keep my closets devoid of anything that would resemble Hokie colors, so I had to acquire something for the day. I am quite shocked that the Hokie Color day isn't a Sea of Orange (to pull a Virginia phrase into this equation). My company even relaxed our business casual rules to allow people to wear their orange, and I'm still alone in this.

BTW -- NDYanksfan -- welcome back. It's good to have someone here to represent all that is evil in sports. We are glad to have you.

As a Yankee Hater, I would like nothing more than to see A-Rod keep this up, win his 2nd MVP award in NY, and then give a finger to the fans as he walks out on the final 3 years of his contract. The Yankees are getting a bargain on his deal and some Yankee (*Cough Jeter) needs to stand up for him in the press all year, not just when he is hitting game winning homers twice a week.

The problem is no one will give a-rod credit unless he hits the game winner in every at-bat of the playoffs (see cmfost and geoff comments today)...the guy cannot win. It is unbelievable. Manny is having his second straight HORRIFIC start to a season and he is a stud because he hit his first HR yesterday? Maybe if Manny played better last year to start the Sox would have made the playoffs. But no one says anything...the standards A-rod has to live up to are ridiculous and absurd. He is one of the top players of our generation and he gets comments like "its only april" and "well he went 0-4 before the game winning three run HR". What more can this guy do right now? It shows either a) no knowledge of baseball or b)complete and today hatred towards the guy for no other reason than he plays for the yankees. He doesn't use steroids, he works his ass off, he takes more critiscm than any other player (including Bonds), he drives in 130 RBIs in a DOWN year, he moved positions to fit the needs of the team, he rarely if ever tries to rock the boat (other than occasionly showing some frustation for being constantly booed by idiots)...show a little baseball intelligence and acknowledge the fact that if your team had the opportunity you would LOVE for this guy to be on your team...

Jen - That church does not even deserve to be spoken about or to even be call a church. These are the people who protest at funrels for Soliders killed in Iraq because they think God is punishing our nation because with are acceptant of homosexuallity.

Sorry NDYANk but Manny was not the reason the Red Sox did not make the playoffs last year. Injuries to there pitching staff and the everyday line up pretty much gave them no shot. I remember one game that they only had One Person in the line up that was in the line up on Opening Day last year.

well guess what cmfost...a-rod is not the reason the yankees haven;t won the world series in the past three years...pitching has been the main problem and the fact that no one in entire line-up hit probably didn't help either.

I think the Oden/Durant arguement will not be settled until we know who has the Number #1 pick. Once we know that then we will have a better idea of who will get picked. I know if Boston has the #1 Pick it is Oden for sure but I team like say minnesota might take Durant.

its a team game and picking on a-rod for the teams shortcomings is absolutely ridiculous. Basing his worth over a sample size of 4 games out of 166 is ignorant. No way in hell the yankees make the playoffs last year without A-rod

NDYanks, it's not Red Sox fans for the most part who have been saying that A-Rod is the reason they haven't won a World Series since he got there... it's the aforementioned Yankees fans who booed A-Rod mercilessly that are the culprits.

Also NDYanks, you have no clue what you're talking about in terms of Manny's slow start hurting the Red Sox last year. They were in 1st place for a while there early in the season, even before Manny heated up. Last year the Sox just weren't that deep, and didn't have the players to be able overcome the injuries they had.

Also, Josh Hamilton is a better comp to Chris Shelton. Pujols is the better comp to A-Rod.

The Hokie family is in all of our thoughts today! As for those individuals from that so-called church--they have been a boil on the rear end of this country ever since they came to Miami a number of years ago to picket at the funeral of Pedro Zamora (the young man who was on "Real World" and died of AIDS). I've often wondered where they get their money to travel all over the country to disrupt people's lives. Maybe the money comes from the same person who funded all those investigations of Clinton!

NDYF -- you're absolutely right. I would love to have ARod on either of my teams, the Cubs or the Nationals. ARod would be an awesome shortstop on either team. (*And, given that neither one will play in October any time soon, we couldn't even hate on him for that.)

I think ARod is by far the best player on the Yankees, and is the best player in baseball. When he retires, he may go down as the greatest to ever play -- at least 800 home runs, 10+ gold gloves, 5+ MVP awards, and zero steroids allegations.

I am not hating on ARod. I am hating on Yankees fans for not realizing what a good thing they have (and paying him less than they do Jeter, Giambi, and Mussina).

i agree that manny is not the reason they didn't make the playoffs - i was trying to make a point that players have slumps and judging their worth to a team based on a small sample size (a la 4 games) is an injustice to the fact that they contribute so much the rest of the time. It is also unfair (and stupid) to pin the struggles of a team on one player...

It is very easy to see why A-Rod gets all the blame and everyone else skates. It is because of his status in the game and how the media loves to either hammers him when he is good and hammer him more when he is bad.

cmfost is reaching almost "andy" levels of idiocy. You say it's only April. You may want to extend that to your "Red Sox Nation." Because every year this decade (it seems, if not true) that the Red Sox are in first place every April...and all the Sox fans I know shove it in my face...and every year the Yankees win the division. Can't have it both ways.

Also, I'm as big an ARod critic as anyone (though I would never condone booing). I have always thought that ARod should just shut his mouth and speak with his bat (and glove), and hopefully he'll do just that.

A-Rod having a great start is especially important for the Yanks given their pitching concerns at the moment. Without him they'd be under .500. Is needs to maintain the torrid pace until the pitching gets resolved (health/trade).

cmfost -- Hilarious. Up until three years ago, Red Sox fans would get incensed when Yankees fans would bring up the number of titles they've won. Now you bring up the same thing when talking about Manny and ARod.

Seriously verbal, what the fuck?? I'm not the swearing type but I'm also quite sick of getting called an idiot everyday for no apparent reason. I did absolutely nothing to deserve it and it adds nothing to the conversation. Get over yourself and get your head out of your ass.

To catch a clue, look at your last sentence. Also, not to be childish, but you're the one that started the name-calling and you kept it going when I did nothing to deserve it. So, I retaliated. Am I stubborn for holding a grudge? Absolutely. But I don't like being called stupid or an idiot. I guess it's like Marty McFly and being called "yellow", I can't help myself.

ARod is held to a different standard because his contract dictates that the expectations for him are higher than anyone else. It's all good and dandy to have a great regular season, but when you make that much money you are expected to have great postseasons too. Not crap the bed when you are facing a team that no one on the planet picks to beat you.

Again, with the name calling! Actually, it's been two weeks, which in the scheme of things isn't that long. Although how would you know that I've been "holding a grudge that long" without recalling your offensive remarks. Maybe you sadly do it without noticing, which would be indicative of a greater emotional problem.

Two pieces of advice: if you can't take it, don't dish it out; and if you don't like being called out as an idiot, stop making remarks like, "Yeah, A-Rod wasn't even that good. He was 0-4 with 2 strikeouts and 4 LOB and an error before the homer."

Jen had it right, Phelps is an asshat. This is the same guy who wanted to picket the funerals of the Amish girls that were killed last year. Nothing worse than a closed-minded religious fanatic nutjob.

Conley Jr will be fine. Dwayne Wade didn't really have a jump shot coming out of college either and he's doing fairly well isn't he? He shouldn't be the first PG picked though, that should be Acie La IV. But there's a difference between "should" and "will".I'm curious though how the NCAA will see this considering Conley Sr has PUBLICLY stated he's going to be his son's agent.

You call 0-4 with 2 K's, 4 LOB, and an error a good game? Wow, you truly are an idiot then. The walk-off wouldn't have been necessary if he had knocked in even 2 of those 4 LOB.

And you missed my point: if I don't remember it, it must have been pretty long ago. 2 weeks? You find what I said and link to it if I even said anything. Even so, people call people stupid and say people make stupid comments on here all the time. You're the only one doing it on a grudge. That is a sign of immaturity. That's not name-calling. That's stating a fact.

I agree with Geoff...A-Rod makes beau coup bucks and no one will accept anything less from him than strong offense and very few errors. Well, since I'm not a Yankee fan, I don't mind his 0-fer streaks and errors. ;)

if a-rod knocked in every runner on base in front of him he'd have somewhere in the vacinity of 600 rbi's for the season...so you think he should knock in half those a night according to your statement...that is a ridiculous comment. going 1-5 with a HR and 3rbis is not a bad game...its a pretty damn good game no matter what. and knocking in 2 of 6 runners in front of you is also pretty good for a game.

Andy your comments are ridiculous. my only argument against people like cmfost in terms of his struggles in oct is that its a small sample size and its not only his fault they lose...but your comments are ludicrous. The guy is having a monster start and to bitch about him going 0-4 to start a game is absurd. NO PLAYER CAN GET A HIT EVERY AT BAT OR KNOCK IN A RUN AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY - HE IS HUMAN AND IS GOING TO MAKE OUTS AND STRIKEOUT...picking himself up at the end of the game turned it from a bad day to an awesome day.

i just pray to god yankee fans dont start being dicks and booing him once he hits his first slump...which is bound to happen (not because he is a-rod, but because he is a baseball player and thats what happens in a 162 game season)...those people suck

NDYANKSFAN you are acting as if A-Rod didn't even exist before he joined with the Yankees.

He was booed before he was on the team because of the contract he signed.

He was already the best player in the majors before he went to NY.

He was booed by YANKEES FANS all of last year and the beginning of this year.

"What more can this guy do right now? It shows either a) no knowledge of baseball or b)complete and today hatred towards the guy for no other reason than he plays for the yankees."

Considering that the Yankees fans last year were all saying he was a choker in the playoffs when him and Jeter have very similar post-season stats for their careers, I think you may want to rethink some of your comments.

NDYF -- that's why I love Yankees fans is because they will do that. ARod has 2 walk-off home runs this year, and is 2/3 in 9th inning game winning hit situations. If the Nationals had anyone 2/3 in that situation, they'd be 6-9, with a sweep of the Mets and a series win against the Braves. I'd take that 2/3 any day.

I hope he has a monster year and then flies the coop. Then, Yankees fans will have only themselves to thank. There is probably no worse city to be an athlete in -- except for maybe Philly where they booed Santa Clause.

But, where would sports be without hating the good players/teams? I mean, if we all hated ND, the Yanks, and Duke, but they all sucked, what would be the point? No one ever says "man, I really hate that Duke football team!" Same goes for hating ARod. It's a lot easier to hate a multi-time MVP who makes more money than God than to hate Delmon Young. Yeah, DY is an asshat who throws bats at umpires, but he barely gets paid, is on the worst team in the league, and doesn't really register as a target of fan hate. Besides, wouldn't a fan look like a clown, booing DY and cheering for ARod (even in NY)?

comments always slow around lunch, as we're predominantly east coast folks, same thing with comments stopping around 4:30 every day. Instead of spending lunch on teh internet and working all day, I prefer to work through lunch and be on the internet all day....

There is NO WAY Golden State can get to the West finals with their brand of defense. They match up well with Dallas, but they caught the Mavs at the right time three times this year (right at the beginning, during a long winning streak, and when they were resting their starters at the end). Dallas wins in six.

I like the rest of the picks, but just to be different, I'll say Dallas over Toronto in the finals.

I've read enough. I'm so tired of people generalizing Yankee fans like they know what they're talking about. As a Yankee fan myself, I like A-Rod. I've never booed A-Rod nor any other Yankee, and I never will. I've always wanted him on my team. And I don't think I'm alone. Call us the silent majority. It's easy to call out Yankee fans because it makes it easier to be a hater. But the truth is, you probably don't know sh#t about it.

You can call out Yankee fans for wearing tank tops, being drunk at the Stadium, having bad tatoos, swearing or oftentimes being a meathead. But true, real Yankee fans can be loyal and knowledgeable. They just happen to root for a team that's good, so it bothers people. So please try not to generalize.

But all Boston fans are drunk, idiots, who are incapable of being objective, want to fight at least once a day, date fat chicks and think the world revolves around them. (sorry, that was a joke)

I'll say this...it was WEIRD talking to a Yankee fan who just likes his team and lives and dies with them every day like any other fan would his team....a baseball guy who's been to every park in the majors at this point. Maybe because he lives in the city where he's not subject to Sox/Yanks debates as much as one would in the shadow of the WWL.

Nevertheless, I keep my enemies close....so I have never let on I'm a red sox fan, and he actually made a crack in an email that I only work late when the yankees aren't playing that night.

I guess I'll just say that he doesn't fit that "typical yankee fan" stereotype....

The past does not predict the future, though one likes to think so.A-Rod 'choked' in the playoffs before. Fine.Doesn't mean he will this year. What we do know is that he's hitting well so far this season.

Conley Jr. doesn't have to pick an agent, and I dont think there's an issue with Sr. saying that he WILL be his agent, so long as he isn't pushing him towards the NBA now (and, it does not seem like he is).

Westboro Baptist's crew is coming here to Augusta GA this weekend to protest at Ryan Clark's memorial service (the RA who was shot in the dormitory). Our local drive-time talk show host is urging locals to come stand between those nincompoops and the family, friends, etc., so they at least can't see them. And a local group of bike riders are going to rev their motors to drown out the garbage that those idiots from Topeka are planning to spew.

"One of Westboro's followers estimated that the church spends $250,000 a year traveling around the world to picket. In the 1990s the church won a series of lawsuits against the City of Topeka and Shawnee County for efforts taken to prevent or hinder WBC picketing. As a result, the church was awarded approximately $200,000 in attorney's fees and costs associated with the litigation. Otherwise, all of the church's money comes from the combined income of its congregants and money won in lawsuits against their opponents."

These people are complete and utter wackos.

Just doing some light reading here at the office, instead of what I should really be doing. {sigh} All in a day's work.

I think the Westboro Baptist Church was the group going around to soldiers funerals and protesting. I believe the jist of their 'protest' was the soldiers deserved to die because they were fighting for a country that allows homosexuality. I believe it was the Freedom Riders that would line up their motorcycles between the burial and the Westboro freaks and rev the engines to drown out their hate messages.

It sickens me as a Christian that groups like this exist. I wish I could be in Atlanta to support Ryan Clark's family from these people but I know that there will be hundreds of people there to do all they can to help his family get through this extremely difficult time.

The people from the Westboro Baptist I can't even call them a church are just complete idiots with a lack of respect to any person in this country. They were on WEEI in Boston one day and this women was talking about how 9-11 was punishment from god for us allowing homosexuallity. And I swear the host probably would of strngled this women if they could

Update on WBC protest - another talk show host has cut a deal with them - in exchange for 1 hour of air time during his show, the WBC nut jobs have agreed to stay away from the memorial. Extortion? Perhaps. In the best interests of the family? ABSOLUTELY! Thank you, Mike Gallagher.

hey guy in the corner I like to consider myself one of those 12. The people who really piss me off are the semi basketball fans who think that they know everything, and then tehy tell you that ewing was one of teh 5 best centers ever or that nash is thebest point guard ever.

Stop it! Stop it stop it stop it! Did anyone else see that the Cubes just signed Aramis Ramirez to a long-term extension this past winter? They have a third baseman! They aren't getting A-Rod! Why doesn't anyone else get this? He's NOT a shortstop anymore!

(Although I suppose they signed Soriano as a CF this past year, so they do have experience putting high-priced players out of position...)

Did anybody else see PTI reference the story on thebiglead about the video of Mario Williams racing in his car? I wonder if ESPN was throwing some free publicity their way to make up for the site's shutdown by Colin Cowherd.

HAAHAHA Toronto over Cleveland in 6. You are a JOKE, dude!!! I can definitely see your pure hatred for the Cavaliers. It's no prob, though. Doesn't matter what you think, it's just a matter of time before the Cavs take over the entire freaking NBA. Remember last year when you had Washington beating us in 7? How'd that work out for you, you tard???

Cavs to the Finals. Book it. Don't believe me? Well based on your track record, I shouldn't believe YOU, either!

Thanks for the support but it looks like Dan is going "outside the family" for this one. It would have been great if we could have split it up though. As I have said, I am the humble home of astute NBA comentary and have been for some time. I'm that guy who knows the nobodys coming off the bench in the playoffs. Other people could have done other topics such as the Yanks/Sox series which looks like it's going my way.

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DanShanoff.com is a sports-blog spin-off of my long-time ESPN.com column, "The Daily Quickie." Anchored by an early-morning post of must-know topics, the blog is updated frequently throughout the day with new posts and user comments.